Black Farmer shop in Brixton awarded £250,000 investment

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, founder of The Black Farmer brand, has received a £250,000 investment from the Growth Impact Fund (GIF) to support his London-based farm shop, established to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs.

The funding, announced on 5 November, is designed to help expand The Black Farmer shop, which opened last year in Brixton Village, south London.

Agriculture is widely recognised as one of the least diverse sectors in the UK, with just 1% of farmers coming from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds (BAME).

See also: Online course launches to boost diversity in UK agriculture

Mr Emmanuel-Jones, who was awarded an MBE in 2020 for his contribution to British farming, has long been an advocate for increasing Black representation in agriculture.

“If you are black, racialised or from a deprived background, your chances of getting into the food, farming or retail industry are extraordinarily slim,” he said. 

© Big Issue Group

Situated in a vibrant, diverse community where a significant proportion of the population identifies as BAME, the shop offers locally sourced products from both established suppliers and emerging entrepreneurs.

Mr Emmanuel-Jones, a member of the Windrush generation, said the location was a personal choice, reflecting his desire to connect with his roots while promoting diversity in an industry where BAME representation remains extremely low.

The investment from GIF, a collaboration between Big Issue Invest and UnLtd, marks the first brick-and-mortar project funded by the initiative, which aims to address inequalities in business.

The shop not only sells food and farming products but also offers workshops, business advice, and brand development services to help underrepresented individuals enter the retail sector.